Ice-making machine



Sept 29, 1953 J. b. WILLIIAMS, JR-

ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l ESERVO/R 3nventor JESSE o. W/LL/AMS, JR.

'Gttomeg Sept. 29, 1953 J. D. WILLIAMS,'JR' 53,

ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jmaentor JA-ss' 0. WILL/A445, J2.

an 'r M Gttorneg Sept. 29, 1953 J. D. WILLIAMS, JR 2,653,453

ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Snoentor JESSE a. wxuuws, an.

(Ittorneg Patented Sept. 29, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,653,453 7 Ice-MA K1 Ne MACHINE Jesse Williams, Shively, Ky., .assignor to Henry Yogt Machine Company, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application August 5, 1949, Serial N'o.'-108,783

In reverse cycle ice making machines of the type exemplified by Kubaugh Patent 2,444,514 issued July .6, 1948, during the freezing cycle the refrigerant gas drawn" by the pump from the evaporator is condensed and'stor'ed in aireservoir, from which reservoir itisfedas required to'the freezer or evaporator. In the thawing cycle theliquid refrigerant is rapidly evacuated from the evaporator and is stored ina separate trans fer drum or displacement vessel until completion of the thawing cycle, whereupon theliquid refrigerant is rapidly returnedtherefrom to the evaporator for the-freezing cycle. During the freezing cycle, asrefrigerant boils off in the evaporator, it is replaced at a relatively slowrat'e by liquid refrigerantifrc'm'the condenser.

It is an- .objec'tof the present inventionzt'c simplify the construction and-operation of this type of machinaby having a, single" vessel serve as a receiver or reservoir for liquefied'refriger'ant from the condenser, and as a receiver for liquid refrigerantexpelledfrom the evaporator during the thawing cycle, and as the gas supply to the compressor during the thawing cycle; thereby eliminating the st'ahd'i by transfer .drum or displacement vessel.

In accordance with the present invention, the reservoir which receives liquefied refrigerant from the condenser; is utilized to're'ceive the reverse flow of liquefied refrigerant from the freezer and to .supplygas to the compressor during the thawing-cycle, thus eliminating the transfer drum or displacement vessel. Any suit able cycle control valve and piping'is employed to allow the freezer and. reservoir to be interchangeable connected with the compressor in let and outlet to maintain suction on the freezer and pressure on the reservoir during the freezing cycle, and to maintain suction on the reservoir and pressure on the freezer during the thawing cycle; The liquid flow connecting means be tween the reservoirand freezer also allows flow of liquid refrigerant'from the reservoir to the freezer during the freezing cycle'while pressure is maintained in'- the reservoir.andrlsucti'on is maintained in the freezer, and" allows reverse flow of liquid-refrigerantduring the thawing reservoir and freezer includes a vapor trap that to flow therethrough and which maintains the required pressure difference .on opposite sides thereof during each cycle ofoperation. However, in place of vapor traps, especially where flow of gas through ,the liquid :fiow line is restricted or prevented by. other means, other forms of pressurelocks' or restrictions .may be provided, such as, for example, loaded check valves, expansion valves, capillary tubes, time or temperature controlled valves, and the like.

V The invention isapplicable to systems which employ water for thawing the lower ends of the ice tubes; .or to systems wherein heat is supplied to the bottoms of the ice'tubes by. warm refrig- Y erant in liquid vor gaseous state, as. disclosed and claimed, in vmyyapplication :Serial No. 95,557 filed May 26, .1949, for ,IceQMaking' Apparatus, now Patent No. 2,618,129, granted November 18, 1952.

The inventionlwill bea'described in. greater detail .in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of theinvention by way, .of example, and .wherein: Figure 1 is, adragmentary' sectional view througha freezer,

Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the oper-'- ation of one embodiment of' the invention,

Figure 2a'is .a view in vertical section of a vapor lockfeedvalve,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, of a modification, V

\Figure .is another view similar to Figure 2 of .a further modificationgand Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view ofanother modification. l Referring to the drawingK'Figure l') the freezer is .of conventional construction and comprises a shell or'ho'usingl through which extend vertically arrangedtubes .2; Water, or other liquid to be vchilledlor frozen; "news 'downwardly in a thin film through tubes 2 and ischi-lled or frozen by the evaporatiori of liquefied refrigerant from zevaporator :chamber 3 surrounding the tubes. A partition 4 may :be'provided at the bottom to separate fofi a chamber 6lar'ou'nd the lowerperld'si of theij ice tubesfand thus" prevent as ice formation on the bottom.

The evaporator chamber 3 is connected by conduits I, I (Figure 2) having a solenoid operated valve 8 therein, to the inlet side of a compressor 9; and conduits II, II having a solenoid operated valve I2 therein connect the compressor outlet to the condenser I3. During the freezing cycle, the compressor draws gas from the evaporator by conduits I, I, compresses it, and the compressed gas is conducted by conduits II, M to condenser I3 where it i liquefied, the liquid flowing into reservoir I4. The conduit I5 having a vapor trap feed valve I6 therein connects the reservoir to the bottom of evaporator chamber 3 to supply liquid to the evaporator, and a standpipe I4 in the reservoir provides a' residual or minimum level of liquid refrigerant in the reservoir.

Vapor trap valve I6 is of knownconstruction,

and the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2c comprises a housing having a valve [6a, controlling the outlet, which is connected to a bell type float I62) having a small 'ven't' Ific therein. Should the liquid level in the reservoir fall so low that gas passes into trap I6, the gas buoys up the float lob to close valve I611. The gas bleeds through vent I60 and condenses in the chamber. The float drops to reopen the valve when the liquid in the trap is replenished. This valve thus acts as an expansion valve to relieve the pressure on the liquid on the outlet side, to allow it to evaporate.

A bypass pipe I? connected around vapor trap valve I6 has a suitable vapor locking device It therein. The device I8 may be a vapor trap like member I 6 connected to allow liquid fiow in the opposite direction, that is, from the evapo rator to the reservoir. Or it may be a spring loaded check valve, or any other suitable device.

A bypass conduit I9 is connected between conduit I on the freezer side of valve 8, and conduit II on the compressor side of valve I2, this conduit having a solenoid valve 20 therein. Another bypass conduit 2| is connected between conduit II on the reservoir side of valve i2, and conduit 1 on the compressor side of valve 8, this conduit having a solenoid operated valve 22 therein.

The operation of the invention now will be described. During the freezing cycle valves 8 and I2 are open, and valves 29 and 22 are closed. The compressor draws gas from evaporator chamber 3 thereby lowering the pressure in the evaporator; the gas withdrawn is compressed by the compressor and is incidentally heated; and the warm gas is discharged therefrom into the condenser reservoir system where the refrigerant is liquefied and kept under pressure. operated valve I6 remains open as long as liquid is supplied by reservoir It, and because of the higher pressure in the reservoir, liquefied refrigerant is suppliedv toevaporator chamber 3 through conduit I5. The flow of .gas is indicated by dotted arrows, and the fiow of liquid by full arrows in the freezing cycle.

During the thawing cycle valves 8 and I2 are closed and valves 29 and 22 are opened. Vapor thus is drawn by compressor 9 through conduits II, 2| and 1' from reservoir I4 to reduce the pressure thereon, cause evaporation from the residual pool of liquefied refrigerant therein, and cool the liquid refrigerant in the reservoir; the vapor is compressed and heated by the com pressor; and the warm gas is introduced under pressure into evaporating compartment 3 by way Float in connection with member I6.

of conduits II, I9 and I. The liquefied refrigerant in evaporator chamber 3 is thus expelled by the pressure of the gas supplied to chamber 3, and flows through conduits I5 and I1 back to the reservoir I4. Gas cannot flow back through vapor trap valve I6 into reservoir I4 because upon introduction of vapor into housing It, the vapor bleeds through vent I into the bell IEb until the level of liquid inside and outside the bell are equal, thus buoying up the bell and closing the valve l6a. Ga cannot flow through trap valve I8 as previously explained The warm compressed gas in the freezer thaws the ice free from the tube walls and the ice thereupon falls out. The thawing of the lower ends of the tubes may be expedited by supplying warm water by means not shown to chamber 6 during the thawing cycle. The apparatus then reverts again to the freezing cycle by the closing of valves 20 and 22 and opening of valves 8 and I2, which causes the cooled liquid refrigerant in the reservoir to flow to the evaporator chamber while suction is applied to the evaporator chamber. It will be understood that valves 8, I 2, 2i] and 22 may be of any suitable type, and may be operated manually or may be operated automatically by suitable timing or cycle control mechanism.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, wherein like parts are indicated by like reference numerals, the lower ends of the freezer tubes are heated during the thawing cycle by hot compressed refrigerant gas introduced into cham-- ber 8. The bypass conduit 25 is connected between conduit I I on the compressor side of valve [2, and the chamber 5 of the freezer. A conduit 2'? connects the heating chamber 6 with the evaporator chamber 3 by its connection to conduit I on the freezer side of valve 8, and may have a solenoid operated valve 26 therein. If desired, the valve 25 may be in conduit 25 between conduit II and the chamber 6. In this modification, during the freezing cycle valves 8 and I2 are open and valves 22 and 26 are closed, so that the apparatus operates as described in connection with Figure 2.

During the thawing cycle valves 3 and I2 are closed and valves and 2e are open so that gas is drawn from the reservoir by the conduit II through conduits 2i and i to the compressor, and heated compressed gas flows through conduits II and 25 to chamber 6, and thence by conduits 2i and i to the evaporator chamber to expel liquefied refrigerant therefrom. The expelled liquefied refrigerant returns to reservoir Id by way of conduits i5 andi'I as above described. The warm refrigerant gas introduced into chambers i3 and 3 thaws loose the ice rods which fall out of the'freezer, and thereafter the system is returned to the freezing cycle by the closing of valves 22, 25 and opening of valves 8, and I2. Now, while gas is being withdrawn from freezer i by the compressor, liquid refrigerant enters freezer i from the reservoir through conduit i5 and feed valve IS.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 is designed for operation in an arrangement wherein the bottoms of the tubes are prevented fromfreezing during the freezing cycle by the application of heat thereto from the warm liquefied re- It connects With a conduit 30 having a one-way valve 32 therein which in turn is connected to the bottom thawing chamber 3 of the freezer. A

conduit 33 having the vapor trap I3 therein is connectedfrom thethawing chamber 5 to a point above the bottom of the evaporating chamber 3. By this arrangement, during the freezing cycle, warm liquefied refrigerant from the receiver it slowly flows through check valve "32 into the thawing chamber 6 and thence through conduit '33 and valve 16 to the evaporator chamber 3, the warm refrigerant preventing-freezing in'thelo-wer ends of the tubes in chambert.

In the'thawing cycle valves Band l2 are-closed and valves 20 and 22 are opened, so that when warm refrigerant gas under pressure is introduced into evaporator chamber 3 the liquid refrigerant is expelled rapidly by conduit 3| and flows through the float tank 31, liquid transfer valve 35, and one-way valve 36, into conduit it back to the reservoir. Valve 35 is controlled by a float in tank 3'! to allow liquid to pass therethrough and to close to prevent flow of gas. This valve is described and claimed in the application of Archie P. Fulkerson, Serial No. 773,421, filed September 11, 1947, now Patent No. 2,574,823, granted November 13 ,1951, for Fluid Flow Controller. The warm refrigerant gas in chamber 3 thaws the ice rods loose, after which the apparatus reverts, to the freezing cycle. Now, when ga sis withdrawn from evaporator chamber 3 by the compressor, liquid refrigerant enters chamber 3 from the reservoir through conduits I5, 36, check valve 32, chamber 6 and conduit 33, the check valve 36 preventing flow of liquid refrigerant through transfer valve 35 directly to chamber 3.

In the modification shown in Figure 5 a conduit 4! having the valve 20 therein connects the compressor outlet to conduit 1 between valve 5 and the evaporator, and a conduit 42 having the valve 22 therein leads from the reservoir above the liquid pool to the compressor inlet. Liquid from the reservoir flows by conduit I 5 having the check valve 32 therein to the heater chamber 3, then continues by conduit 43 through trap i5 and check valve 44 into the bottom of the evaporator chamber 3. A one-Way valve 45 bypasses valve 44, and a conduit 46 having a one-way valved! therein returns to the reservoir.

In the freezing cycle, valves 8 and I2 are open, and valves 20 and 22 are closed, so that gas is drawn from the evaporator to the condenser as previously described. Liquefied refrigerant flows from the reservoir by conduit l5 to chamber 6, then by conduit 43, trap It, and valve 44 into the evaporator chamber, the valve 47 preventing flow of gas from the reservoir. In the thawing cycle, valves 8 and I2 are closed and valves 20 and 22 are open. This connects the suction side of the compressor by conduits 1', 42 to the reservoir, and the compressed gas is conducted by conduits H, 4| and 1 to the evaporator. Liquid refrigerant is forced out of the evaporator through check valve 45 and trap I6 and conduit 46 to the reservoir, the trap l6 serving to prevent fiow of gas therethrough. Thus gas under pressure is trapped in the evaporator chamber, while the liquid in the reservoir is subject to the suction of the compressor to supply gas thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. A reverse cycle refrigerating system operating alternately on freezing and thawingcycles comprising: a compressor; an evaporator chamber having tubes extending therethrough for receiving liquid to be frozen, said chamber being connectedto the inlet side of the compressor and having a heating chamber adjacent the lower end of said tubes; a condenserand reservoir connected to the pressure side of the compressor; cycle control means to interchange the reservoir and evaporator with the compressor inlet and outlet; liquid flow means including a vapor trap connecting the reservoir, heating chamber and evaporating chamber in series for flow of liquefied refrigerant from the reservoir to the evaporating chamber; and reverse liquid flow means connecting the evaporating chamber with the reservoir including a vapor trap to allow rapid flow of liquid refrigerant and prevent flow of gas from the evaporating chamber to the reservoir.

2. A refrigerating apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said first mentioned liquid flow means and said reverse liquid flow means include a common vapor trap, and have one-way valves controlling flow therethrough.

3. A reverse cycle refrigerating system operating alternately on freezing and thawing cycles comprising: an evaporator chamber adapted to contain a liquid refrigerant during the freezing cycle and having at least one tube extending therethrough for receiving liquid to be frozen; a condenser; a receiver connected to the condenser to receive liquefied refrigerant therefrom; a compressor having its inlet connected to the evaporator chamber and its outlet connected to the condenser for flow of refrigerant gas during the freezing cycle in sequence to the compressor, condenser and receiver where the gas is liquefied and accumulated; cycle control means to reverse the flow of refrigerant gas between the evaporator chamber and said receiver to supply warm refrigerant gas to the evaporator to thaw the frozen liquid in said tube; and conduit means connecting said receiver and evaporator chamber including a common conduit section for flow of liquid refrigerant in either direction, and branch sections, at least one of said branch sections including vapor trap means to prevent escape of gas from the evaporator chamber past the vapor trap means to the receiver during the thawing cycle, and the other of said branch sections having an opposed one way liquid flow valve means therein allowing liquid flow in the opposite direction.

4. A reverse cycle refrigerating system operating alternately on freezing and thawing cycles comprising: an evaporator chamber adapted to contain a liquid refrigerant during the freezing cycle and having at least one tube extending therethrough for receiving liquid to be frozen, with the lower end portion of said tube projecting beyond the evaporator chamber into a heating chamber; conduit means connecting said chambers for flow of warm refrigerant iiui-d in sequence from the heating chamber to the evaporator chamber; a condenser-receiver; a com pressor having its inlet connected to the evaporator chamber and its outlet connected to the condenser-receiver for flow of refrigerant gas during the freezing cycle in sequence to the compressor and condenser-receiver where the gas is liquefied and accumulated; cycle control means 7 in either direction, and branch sections, one of said branch sections including vapor trap means to prevent escape of gas from the evaporator chamber past the vapor trap means to the receiver during the thawing cycle, and the other of said branch sections having an opposed one way liquid flow valve means therein allowing liquid flow in the opposite direction.

5. A reverse cycle refrigerating system as specified in claim 4 wherein said first mentioned conduit means is normally closed and includes a gas flow connection from the compressor outlet to said heating chamber; and wherein said cycle control means includes means to open said conduit means.

6. A reverse cycle refrigerating system as specified in claim 5 wherein said gas flow connection is normally open between the compressor outlet and said heating chamber.

JESSE D. WILLIAMS, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,015,487 Locke Sept. 24, 1935 2,066,161 Roessler Dec. 29, 1936 2,081,845 Zwickl May 25, 1937 2,221,212 Wussow Nov. 12, 1940 2,444,514 Kubaugh July 6, 1948 

